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2009 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Explorer are lower than the model-year median of 609.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 609

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
630
2006208
2007148
200833
2009115
20101,197
2011827
2012
Compare all Explorer years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Unknown Or Other
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Engine
4Power Train
3Seats
3
All reported categories
Wheels
3Air Bags
2Electrical System
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes
2Structure
2Tires
2Visibility
2Child Seat
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Steering
1Suspension
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

26 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
88,350 miles · Mar 15, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: DELAYED SHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR, AND INCIDENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF PARK AND INTO GEAR, PROBLEMS ALSO IN THE TRANSMISSION'S DELAY IN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND OUT OF REVERSE. LOUD THUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE. STRUGGLING TO REACH 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH A WHINNING SOUND FROM…

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: DELAYED SHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR, AND INCIDENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF PARK AND INTO GEAR, PROBLEMS ALSO IN THE TRANSMISSION'S DELAY IN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND OUT OF REVERSE. LOUD THUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE. STRUGGLING TO REACH 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH A WHINNING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451790

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Explorer problems

Ford Explorer electrical problems →Ford Explorer transmission problems →